Climate analysis: Chances of limiting warming to 1.5C have become even more remote

The idea of limiting global warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels seemed so unrealistic a few years ago that it was barely mentioned in communiqués from annual climate summits.

That changed three years ago in Paris when 195 nations pledged to keep the temperature increase “well below” 2C and to “pursue efforts” to limit it to 1.5C.

Scientists remain extremely doubtful that it will be possible to keep within the 1.5C limit but it has become a major focus of debate in climate negotiations.

This is because the small island states, such as the Marshall Islands and Tuvalu, which are facing an imminent threat from rising sea levels insisted on including the 1.5C target in the Paris Agreement.

The UK and other EU countries endorsed…

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